Mammalian telomeres comprise noncoding TTAGGG repeats in double-stranded regions with a single-stranded TTAGGG repeat 3' overhang and are bound by a multiprotein complex with a telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) containing a UUAGGG repeat as a G-quadruplex noncoding RNA. TLS/FUS is a human telomere-binding protein that was first identified as an oncogenic fusion protein in human myxoid and round-cell liposarcoma. Here, we show that the Arg-Gly-Gly domain in the C-terminal region of TLS forms a ternary complex with human telomere G-quadruplex DNA and TERRA in vitro. Furthermore, TLS binds to G-quadruplex telomere DNA in double-stranded regions and to G-quadruplex TERRA, which regulates histone modifications of telomeres and telomere length in vivo. Our findings suggest that the G-quadruplex functions as a scaffold for the telomere-binding protein, TLS, to regulate telomere length by histone modifications.

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To elucidate the inhibiting mechanisms of fat accumulation by catechins, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ICR mice were fed diets containing either 0.3% catechins or 0.1% EGCG and/or 0.05% caffeine for 4 weeks. After the feeding, intraperitoneal adipose tissues weights were significantly lower in the caffeine, catechins + caffeine, and EGCG + caffeine groups compared to controls. Hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity in the catechins + caffeine group was significantly lower, and the activities of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-II (CPT-II) were significantly higher, compared to the control group. However, these activities were not observed in the other groups. FAS mRNA expression levels in the catechins + caffeine group were significantly lower than in the control group. ACO and CPT-II mRNA levels were not different among all of the treatment groups. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of fat accumulation via a combination of catechins, EGCG, or caffeine were stronger collectively than by either catechins, EGCG, or caffeine alone. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the combination of catechins and caffeine induced inhibition of fat accumulation by suppression of fatty acid synthesis and upregulation of the enzymatic activities involved in β-oxidation of fatty acid in the liver, but this result was not observed by combination of EGCG and caffeine.

GTE structurally and functionally suppressed MNU-induced photoreceptor cell apoptosis. These findings indicate that GTE may help to ameliorate the onset and progression of human RP.